Method and apparatus for enabling transmission in a slotted radio data communication system by pausing data reception

ABSTRACT

Apparatus, and an associated method, that facilitates communication of data in a radio communication system that utilizes a slotted communication scheme. Multiple successive time slots are allocable upon which to communicate data to a receiving communication station. At selected intervals, a controller causes the mode of operation of the receiving communication station to be changed to pause operation in a receive mode and, during the pause, to cause operation of the receiving communication station to transmit data, such as control acknowledgments or other responses.

The present invention relates generally to a manner by which tocommunicate communication responses, such as control acknowledgments ortraffic data, in a slotted communication scheme, such as a GSM cellularcommunication system that provides for GPRS or EDGE data services. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to apparatus, and anassociated method, for a mobile, or other, communication station thatpermits the communication station to transmit control acknowledgments,or other data transmissions, while also engaging in reception of dataduring multiple successive time slots.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Advancements in communication technologies have permitted theconstruction of radio communication systems that provide for datacommunication services that require for their performance the ability tocommunicate large amounts of data in short periods of time. Thethroughput capacity of a communication system quantifies the rate atwhich data can be communicated between a set of communication stations.Generally, at higher data throughput rates, a communication service thatrequires communication of data of a given data size can be completedmore quickly than when the data is communicated at a lower throughputrate.

A cellular communication system is exemplary of a radio communicationsystem that increasingly is used by which to perform data communicationservices. While early-generation cellular communication systems wereprimarily used for voice communication services, successor-generation,cellular communication systems have provided for successively greaterdata services. A GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) cellularcommunication system, operable in conformity with the protocols andspecifications of a series of operating standards promulgated by theEIA/TIA, is exemplary of a cellular communication system that providesfor data communication services. Network infrastructures of GSM cellularcommunication systems have been widely deployed, permitting largenumbers of users to communicate by way of a GSM network. Some GSMsystems provide for GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), a high-speeddata communication service. A super set of GPRS, referred to as EDGE(Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution), also defines a high-speed datacommunication service. EDGE communications, in general, add eight-PSKmodulation, incremental redundancy, and adaptive modulation and codingto GPRS communications. An EDGE-capable communication system, as aresult, provides for achievable data throughput rates that aresignificantly higher than those achievable in a GPRS-only system. GPRSand EDGE data communications provide efficient usage of radio andnetwork resources to effectuate data communication services that arepacket based, intermittent and non-periodic, and either frequent, withsmall transfers of data, or infrequent, with large transfers of data.Internet browsing and electronic mail messaging are two exemplarycommunication services carried out by way of a GSM/GPRS/EDGE network.Other digital cellular communication systems analogously also providefor data communication services.

The operating protocols set forth in the standard promulgations relatingto GSM/GPRS/EDGE communications define various requirements with respectto the communication stations between which the data is communicated.For instance, specification number TS 45.008[5] sets forth adjacent-cellmeasurement requirements. And, document TS 45.0002[2], Annex B, setsforth required communication-station reaction times. Multi-slot classesare also defined in the standard promulgation.

A possible multi-slot communication allocation provides for thepossibility of communication allocations. That is to say, allocationscan be made over a plurality of time slots, even the entirety of thetime slots of one or more frames. While permitted, this multi-slotcommunication possibility is precluded in actual practice. Reporting andacknowledgment requirements, set forth in the aforementioned operatingprotocols, necessitate that a receiving communication station be able togenerate and send acknowledgments or reports during one or more timeslots of a frame or group of frames. The need to provide for a time slotfor reporting or acknowledgment messages, if only during a single timeslot of a group of frames, prevents an allocation of all of the timeslots for the data communications.

If a manner could be provided by which to permit the multi-slotcommunication allocations while still providing a mechanism for acommunication station to return communication acknowledgments orreports, improved communication performance in a time-slottedcommunication system would be provided.

It is in light of this background information related to communicationsin a slotted radio data communication system that the significantimprovements of the present invention have evolved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a functional block diagram of a communication systemin which an embodiment of the present invention is operable.

FIG. 2 illustrates a graphical representation of exemplary utilizationof the slotted radio air interface pursuant to exemplary operation of anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method flow diagram listing the method of operationof an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention, accordingly, advantageously provides apparatus,and an associated method, by which to communicate communicationresponses, such as communication acknowledgments or traffic data, in aslotted communication scheme, such as a GSM communication scheme thatprovides for GPRS or EDGE data services.

Through operation of an embodiment of the present invention, a manner isprovided for a mobile, or other, communication station that permits thecommunication station to transmit control acknowledgments, or other datatransmissions, while also engaging in reception of data during multiplesuccessive time slots.

Communication reception is intermittently paused while the communicationstation transmits the control acknowledgment or other data. The pause inthe reception is great enough at least to permit the communicationstation to change its operational mode to permit the transmission of theacknowledgment or other data, to perform the transmission, and to returnoperation to a mode to continue receiving the communication data.

Autonomous selection by the communication station is made to send thecontrol acknowledgment or other data, and, responsive to such decision,a receive part is turned off, or its operation otherwise paused, whilepreparations are made to transmit the control acknowledgment or otherdata, on a selected one or more time slots.

By providing the capability to the communication station, thecommunication station is permitted to be operable in additionalmulti-slot combinations of communication allocations, particularly,allocations in which entire frames, viz., all of the time slots of oneor more frames, are allocated for communication of data to acommunication station.

When implemented in a mobile station, implicit support for controlacknowledgment transmissions on a communication uplink on one or moretime slots at selected intervals, such as a time slot selected duringevery certain number of downlink allocated blocks, is provided. Themobile station observes conformance to reaction time requirements tochange the mode of the mobile station to permit its communication of thecontrol acknowledgment or other data transmission at selected intervalswhile otherwise operating to receive downlink data communicated to themobile station during multiple successive time slots encompassing entiretime frames.

In another aspect of the present invention, the other data transmissioncomprises an uplink TBF (Temporary Block Flow). The uplink TBF isprovided while a multiple successive downlink time slot allocation isactive. During a period in which the mobile station is to send data, themobile station reduces its downlink allocation to accommodate the uplinkdata transmission. When the uplink transmission is completed, the mobilestation reverts its operation again to receive downlink data during allof the time slots of the multiple successive time slots.

When implemented in a GSM system that provides for GPRS, or its supersetEDGE, data communication services, communication is provided with one ormore mobile stations. Pursuant to registration of a mobile station, themobile station informs the network part of the communication system ofthe capability of the mobile station to operate in an implicit mode,that is, a mode in which the mobile station pauses its receptionoperations at selected intervals and for selected time periods at theselected intervals, sends control acknowledgments, or other data, to thenetwork part. The mobile station informs the network part of itscapabilities, for instance, in a Classmark message. The message includesa field, or fields, to inform the network part of the capabilities ofthe mobile station to operate in this mode.

In response to registration and election to perform a communicationservice, the mobile station is allocated a specific set of radioresources for the reception of downlink information sent to the mobilestation by the network part of the communication system. The downlinkradio resources that are assigned to the mobile station include a radiofrequency and an integral number of time slots, viz., a number ofmultiple successive time slots. The mobile station receives and decodesinformation communicated and received on all of the allocated downlinktime slots during a portion of the reception of the downlink datatraffic. The mobile station switches to a mode in which the mobilestation receives and decodes the information on only a subset of thedownlink time slots and during another subset of the period, the mobilestation operates to transmit a control acknowledgment or other datatraffic on an uplink to the network part of the communication system.Switching between the modes of operation by the mobile station iscarried out alternately autonomously or in response to a message sent bythe network, such as an uplink state flag.

Thereby, the mobile station is able to be operated to receive dataallocated during multiple successive time slots, such as all of the timeslots of a set of time frames while also permitting the mobile stationto provide control acknowledgments or send other data to the network.

In these and other aspects, therefore, apparatus, and an associatedmethod, is provided for facilitating communication response by a firstcommunication station that receives communication data communicated upontime slots defined pursuant to a time-slotted communication scheme. Acontroller is adapted to receive an indication of when the communicationresponse is to be sent by the first communication station. Thecontroller is configured selectably to generate a receive pause controlsignal used to pause receive operation of the communication stationduring at least a first selected time slot period. A communicationresponse generator is configured to generate the communication response,available for communication by the first communication station duringthe at least the first selected time slot period identified in thereceive pause control signal generated by the controller.

With these and other aspects in mind, therefore, reference is first madeto FIG. 1. A communication system, shown generally at 10, provides forthe communication of data between communication stations by way of aradio air interface. The communication of the data is carried outpursuant to operation of an embodiment of the present invention. In theexemplary implementation, the communication system 10 operates ingeneral conformity with the operating protocols of a GSM/GPRS/EDGE(Global System for Mobile communications/General Packet RadioService/Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution) communication system as setforth in the operating standards relating thereto promulgated by theEIA/TIA. While the following description shall describe exemplaryoperation of the communication system with respect to its exemplaryimplementation in which GPRS or EDGE data services are provided, theteachings of the present invention are analogously also applicable toother types of communication systems, e.g., other communication systemsthat make use of a slotted communication scheme.

Elements of the communication system 10 shown in FIG. 1 include a set ofcommunication stations, here communication stations 12 and 14. Thecommunication station 12 is representative of a network station formingpart of the network infrastructure of the communication system. And, thecommunication station 14 is representative of a mobile station. Thecommunication stations 12 and 14 shall, at times, be referred to hereinas a network station and a mobile station, respectively. Duringoperation of the communication system, data is communicated, such aspursuant to performance of a data communication service, between thenetwork and mobile stations. Downlink communication of data, i.e., bythe network station to the mobile station, as well as uplinkcommunication of data, i.e., by the mobile station to the networkstation is carried out. For purposes of illustration, a downlink datacommunication service shall be described. An uplink communicationservice is analogous, and its performance is analogously carried out.

The network station is adapted to receive data, here represented by wayof the line 18, that is to be communicated to the mobile station. Thedata provided by way of the line 18 is provided to a transmit part of atransceiver 22. The transmit part of the transceiver operates to placethe data in a form to permit its communication to the mobile station andto transmit the data, once placed in the appropriate form.

The mobile station registers with the network station pursuant toregistration procedures. Registration procedures are carried out, forinstance, when the mobile station is powered-up and when the mobilestation enters into an area encompassed by a network part of which thenetwork station forms a portion. As part of the registration procedure,the mobile station sends a Classmark 2 or 3 message. The Classmarkmessage is defined in the operating specification of the GSM/GPRS/EDGE,and pursuant to an embodiment of the present invention includes anextension that identifies the mobile station capability to sendcommunication acknowledgments, or other data, at selected intervals andperiods. The transceiver of the network station also includes a receivepart that receives messages sent by the mobile station.

The network station also includes an allocator 24. The allocatorallocates radio resources upon the radio air interface that extendsbetween the network and mobile stations. The allocation is, in theexemplary implementation, made responsive to indications, here providedby way of the line 26, of the amount of data that is to be communicated.Other, or additional, indicia is alternately utilized by the allocatorin the allocation of radio resources to provide for the communication ofthe data. The radio air interface of a GSM/GPRS/EDGE communicationsystem forms a time-slotted communication scheme in which time framesare defined at various frequencies within the range of operation of thecommunication stations. Each time frame is divided into time slots, andtime slot-radio frequency carrier combinations are allocable for thecommunication of the data. As mentioned previously, multiple sequentialtime slots are allocable upon a carrier to expedite the communication ofdata between the communication stations. While allocation of time slotsthat encompass an entire time frame, or groups of time frames, ispermitted, the need to provide opportunity to a communication station,here the mobile station, that receives the data to acknowledge itsreceipt or otherwise respond, at selected intervals to the communicationstation that communicates the data, limits the multiple successive timeslot allocations. A time period great enough to permit the communicationof the communication acknowledgment and other response as well as timeperiods to change the mode of operation of the mobile station into andout of the acknowledgment or response node is required. As a result,existing allocations made by conventional allocators 24 do not allocatethe multiple successive time slots of a number that would prevent thegeneration and return of the communication acknowledgment or otherresponse. Pursuant to an embodiment of the present invention, moreexpansive, multiple successive time slot allocations are permitted to bemade when the mobile station is identified to be capable of implicitmode operation, thereby to facilitate timely communication of data toperform a data communication service.

Allocations made by the allocator are provided to the transceiver, andthe operations of the transceiver to transmit the data provided by wayof the line 18 for communication to the mobile station is carried outusing the resources allocated by the allocator.

The mobile station 14 also includes a transceiver, here represented by areceive part 32 and a transmit part 34. The receive part operates toreceive the data communicated thereto and perform conventional receiveoperations upon the received data to recreate the informational contentthereof.

The mobile station also includes apparatus, shown generally at 38, of anembodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 38 is functionallyrepresented, implementable in any desired manner, including, forinstance, by algorithms executable by processing circuitry. Theapparatus 38 facilitates operation of the mobile station to transmitcontrol acknowledgments, or other communication responses, whileengaging in a downlink data transfer of GPRS or EDGE-formatted datapursuant to a data communication service. By its operation, theapparatus 38 permits operation of the communication system tocommunicate data upon multiple successive time slots, including the timeslots of entire time frames, thereby to most expeditiously perform adata communication service. The apparatus 38 also operates, duringmobile-station registration, to form the Classmark 2 or 3 message thatinforms the network station of mobile-station capability in an implicitmode.

The apparatus 38 includes a controller 42 that is provided with inputindicia on the lines 44 and 46 and, responsive to the indicia,selectably generates a pause control signal on the line 48 forapplication to the receive part 32. The indicia provided on the line 44is here provided by a timer 52. The timer is synchronized to the timingscheme of the communication system and provides an indication to thecontroller by way of the line 44 at selected intervals to indicate thata control acknowledgment or other communication response is to begenerated and communicated by the mobile station pursuant to theperformance of the data communication service. The indicia provided tothe controller by way of the line 46 is here representative of indiciaidentifying when communication data communicated pursuant to the datacommunication service is received at the receive part, at least toindicate when the communication data is received during at least aselected number of sequential time slots. The pause control signalcaused by the controller to be applied to the receive part 32 pausesoperation of the receive part to pause its operation to receive data fora selected period, such as a time slot or group of time slots. Thepausing of reception, and transmission by the mobile station, andcorresponding operation of the network station to not transmit data iscarried out implicitly without need for additional signaling subsequentto registration and transmission of the Classmark 2 or 3 message by themobile station.

The apparatus further includes a communication response and traffic datagenerator 54 that is selectably operable to generate a communicationacknowledgment or response or traffic data that is provided by way ofthe line 56 to the transmit part 34 for transmission therefrom. In theexemplary implementation, the operation of the generator 54 is insynchronicity with the generation by the controller of the pause controlsignal, either in a concurrent or timed relationship. Synchronicity ishere represented by the line 58 that extends between the controller 42and the generator 54. And, the receive and transmit parts aresynchronized such that the pause control signal causes pausing of theoperation of the receive part for a time period that corresponds withthe time period during which the transmit part operates to transmit thecommunication acknowledgment, response, or traffic data. As reactiontime periods, such as those set forth in the GPRS-EDGE specification TS45.0002[2], Annex B, are also taken into account, the time period duringwhich the receive part is not operated to receive and operation uponreceived data is correspondingly lengthened.

As the operation of the receive part of the mobile station is caused tobe paused and the transmit part of the mobile station is caused totransmit during selected periods, such as during a single time slot of agroup of time frames, multiple sequential time slot allocations forcommunication of data to the mobile station can be made, andcommunication data communicated pursuant to the performance of the datacommunication service while also providing a mechanism by which togenerate communication acknowledgments or responses or to generatetraffic data, also pursuant to effectuation of the data communicationservice.

Allocations made by the allocator 24 are made implicitly in conjunctionwith the operation of the apparatus 38 embodied at the mobile stationsuch that data is not communicated by the network station to the mobilestation during the periods in which the operation of the receive part 32of the mobile station is paused. Data is not sent by the network stationwhen the mobile station is not operated to receive the communicateddata, and the network station is alerted to be operable to detect thecommunication acknowledgment or other response generated and transmittedby the mobile station.

FIG. 2 illustrates a representation, shown generally at 62,representative of exemplary communication allocations over a pluralityof time slots encompassing a group of frames. Here, three frames 64,each formed of six time slots 66, are shown. Time slots that areallocated for downlink communications are designated with the letters“DL”. And, time slots that are used to return communicationacknowledgments are designated with the letters “UL”. In this exemplaryrepresentation, multiple successive time slots are allocated fordownlink communications of the data. And, more particularly, multiplesequential time slots encompassing entire time frames 64 are allocatedfor the downlink communications. Only intermittently, here, during atime slot of one alternating time frame, is there an allocation forreturn of a communication acknowledgment or other response. Thereby,increased amounts of radio resources are allocable for the communicationof the data to the mobile station.

Also pursuant to operation of a further embodiment of the presentinvention, an uplink state flag (USF) is sent by the network part to themobile station. When received at the mobile station, the uplink stateflag, or its absence, is determinative, at the mobile station, as towhether the mobile station sends data back to the network station onuplink-designated time slots. If the network station elects not to senda USF, the mobile station operates solely in a receive mode to receivedownlink data communicated upon the allocated downlink channels. If,conversely, the network station sends an USF to the mobile station, themobile station is granted the opportunity to transmit data, such as inthe next or subsequent block period. And, subsequent to the transmissionby the mobile station, in conformity with the instructions of the USF,the mobile station returns to the receive mode to receive downlinkcommunication data during the next subsequent block period.

With respect to the exemplary implementation in a GSM/GPRS/EDGEcommunication system, an embodiment of the present invention providesthe capability of an amended TS[4] 44.060 standard promulgation topermit implicit support for control acknowledgments (Ctl-Ack) on anuplink every certain number of downlink blocks, by reducing the downlinkassignment from six or more to a number less than six, thereby enablinga mobile station to observe conformance to reaction time requirementsset forth in the existing promulgation of document number TS 45.002[2]whenever the mobile station requires the transmission of an uplinkcontrol acknowledgment. For instance, a DL TBF is sent, responsive toassignment, i.e., allocation, of time slots TS0 . . . TS6 for twelveblock periods. And, then, for one block period, the DL assignment istemporarily changed to, e.g., TS0 . . . TS3, while the controlacknowledgment is sent on the uplink. The assignment, i.e., allocation,thereafter reverts to TS0 . . . TS6 for another twelve block period.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method, shown generally at 82, representative ofthe method of operation of an embodiment of the present invention. Themethod facilitates communication response by a first communicationstation that receives communication data communicated upon time slotsdefined pursuant to a time slotted communication scheme. First, and asindicated by the block 84, an indication of when the communicationresponse is to be sent by the first communication station is detected.In one implementation, additional detections are made, such asdetections of an indication of when the communication data received bythe first communication station is communicated by more than a selectednumber of successive time slots.

Then, and as indicated by the block 86, a receive pause control signalis selectably generated. The receive pause control signal is used topause receive operation of the first communication station during atleast a first selected time slot period.

Then, and as indicated by the block 88, a communication response isgenerated. The communication response is available for communication bythe first communication station during the at least the first selectedtime slot period.

Thereafter, and as indicated by the block 92, reception is paused at thefirst communication station during the first time slot period identifiedin the receive pause control signal. And, as indicated by the block 94,the communication response is sent to a remote station.

Thereby, through operation of an embodiment of the present invention, amanner is provided by which to permit multiple successive time slots,such as those encompassing entire time frames, to be made and used uponwhich to communicate data to perform a data communication service.Receive operations at a receiving station are paused at selectedintervals to permit the receiving communication station to generate andtransmit communication acknowledgments or other responses.

The previous descriptions are of preferred examples for implementing theinvention, and the scope of the invention should not necessarily belimited by this description. The scope of the present invention isdefined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for transmitting by a device, the methodcomprising: receiving, from a network, an allocation of a plurality offirst timeslots for data reception at the device; receiving, from thenetwork, an allocation of one or more second timeslots for datatransmission at the device; performing data reception on one or more ofthe allocated first timeslots during first time period, the performingof the data reception precluding transmission on a first one of the oneor more allocated second timeslots during the first time period; andwithout further configuration by the network: pausing data reception ona first one of the one or more allocated first timeslots during a secondtime period subsequent to the first time period to permit transmissionon the first one of the one or more allocated second timeslots duringthe second time period; and transmitting during the second time periodon the first one of the one or more allocated second timeslots.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising transmitting an indication oftransmit and receive capabilities of the device.
 3. The method of claim1, wherein the transmitting comprises sending an acknowledgment ofreceived data on the first one of the one or more allocated secondtimeslots.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring theplurality of first timeslots upon completion of the transmitting duringthe second time period.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein pausing datareception comprises pausing for a duration great enough to transmitduring the first one of the one or more allocated second timeslots andto conform to device reaction time requirements.
 6. The method of claim1, wherein the second time period has a duration sufficient to permitthe device to transmit during the first one of the one or more allocatedsecond timeslots and to change into and out of an operational mode topermit said transmitting.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein saidtransmitting comprises sending traffic data during the first one of theone or more allocated second timeslots.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein transmitting during the first one of the one or more allocatedsecond timeslots is responsive to receiving an uplink state flag.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising, after the second time period,reverting back to performing data reception on the first one of the oneor more allocated first timeslots without further configuration by thenetwork.
 10. A device for transmitting information, the devicecomprising: a processor configured to: receive, from a network, anallocation of a plurality of first timeslots for data reception at thedevice; receive, from the network, an allocation of one or more secondtimeslots for data transmission at the device; perform data reception onone or more of the allocated first timeslots during a first time period,the performing of the data reception precluding transmission on a firstone of the one or more allocated second timeslots during the first timeperiod; and without further configuration by the network: pause datareception on a first one of the one or more allocated first timeslots topermit transmission on the first one of the one or more allocated secondtimeslots during the second time period; transmit during the second timeperiod on the first one of the one or more allocated second timeslots;and after the second time period, revert back to performing datareception on the first one of the one or more allocated first timeslots.11. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configuredto transmit an indication of transmit and receive capabilities of thedevice.
 12. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to send an acknowledgment of reception of received data onthe first one of the one or more allocated second timeslots.
 13. Thedevice of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured toresume monitoring of the plurality of first timeslots upon completion ofthe transmission during the second time period.
 14. The device of claim10, wherein the second time period has a duration sufficient to permitthe device to transmit during the first one of the one or more allocatedsecond timeslots and to change into and out of an operational mode topermit said transmitting.
 15. The device of claim 10, wherein theprocessor is configured to select the second time period to transmitduring the first one of the one or more allocated second timeslots andto change into and out of an operating mode that permits transmission.16. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to pausedata reception for a duration great enough to transmit during the firstone of the one or more allocated second timeslots and to conform todevice reaction time requirements.
 17. The device of claim 10, whereinthe processor is configured to transmit traffic data during the firstone of the one or more allocated second timeslots.
 18. The device ofclaim 10, wherein the processor is configured to transmit during thefirst one of the one or more allocated second timeslots responsive toreceiving an uplink state flag.